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Ukraine turmoil

The conflict in Ukraine has deepened with Russian military forces reportedly moving to secure important sites in Crimea following the ouster of the country's pro-Russian president at the end of February. President Barack Obama said in a statement the U.S. is "deeply concerned" about the escalating situation. The violence that broke out
Feb. 18 was the worst in the country's post-Soviet history.

Russian paramilitaries stand guard outside of a Ukrainian military base in the town of Perevevalne near the Crimean city of Simferopol on March 11, 2014 in Perevevalne, Ukraine.

Russian paramilitaries stand guard outside of a Ukrainian military base in the town of Perevevalne near the Crimean city of Simferopol on March 11, 2014 in Perevevalne, Ukraine.

Women hold Crimean flags at Simferopol's Lenin Square on March 15, 2014 as Ukraine braced for a breakaway vote in Crimea as deadly violence flared again in the ex-Soviet country's tinderbox east amid the biggest East-West showdown since the Cold War.

People shout slogans during a pro Russian rally at a central square in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine on March 15, 2014.

A woman wearing a Ukrainian flag stands at a memorial for people killed in clashes with the police at Kiev's Independence Square on March 3, 2014.

Pro-Russia demonstrators rally in front of the local parliament building in Crimea's capital Simferopol, Ukraine, on March 6, 2014.

A Ukrainian self defense volunteer bows his head during a funeral ceremony for Andryi Pozniak, 25, who was also a self defense volunteer and who was shot and killed by an unknown assailant two days ago near Kiev's Independence Square on March 6.

A pro-Russian man wearing the Russian national flag walks past an entrance to the General Staff Headquarters of the Ukrainian Navy as unidentified gunmen stand outside in Sevastopol, Ukraine, on March 3, 2014.

Ukrainian soldiers guard a gate of an infantry base in Privolnoye, Ukraine, on March 2, 2014. Hundreds of unidentified gunmen arrived outside Ukraine's infantry base in Privolnoye in its Crimea region. The convoy includes at least 13 troop vehicles, each containing 30 soldiers, and four armored vehicles with mounted machine guns. The vehicles — which have Russian license plates — have surrounded the base and are blocking Ukrainian soldiers from entering or leaving it.

A poster with the caricature of Russian President Vladimir Putin is on display as people gather during a rally in Kiev's Independence Square on March 2, 2014.

Police detain a protester demonstrating against the Russian military's actions in Crimea and developments in Russian-Ukrainian relations during an unsanctioned rally in St. Petersburg, Russia, on March 2, 2014.

Pro-Russian activists remove the Ukrainian flag (center) to replace it with a Russian one on an administration office in the center of Donetsk, Ukraine, on March 1, 2014. Supporters of new Ukrainian authorities and pro-Russia demonstrators clashed in Kharkiv and Donetsk, a mostly Russian-speaking region in eastern Ukraine.

Troops in unmarked uniforms stand guard in Balaklava on the outskirts of Sevastopol, Ukraine, on March 1, 2014. An emblem on one of the vehicles and their number plates identify them as belonging to the Russian military.

A Ukrainian man stands in protest in front of gunmen in unmarked uniforms as they stand guard in Balaklava, on the outskirts of Sevastopol, Ukraine, on March 1, 2014. An emblem on one of the vehicles and their number plates identify them as belonging to the Russian military.

Pro-Russian activists hold Russian flags during a rally in the center of Donetsk, Ukraine, on March 1, 2014. Supporters of new Ukrainian authorities and pro-Russia demonstrators clashed in Kharkiv and Donetsk, a mostly Russian-speaking region in eastern Ukraine.

Troops in unmarked uniforms stand guard in Balaklava as people walk in a street on the outskirts of Sevastopol, Ukraine, on March 1, 2014. An emblem on one of the vehicles and their number plates identify them as belonging to the Russian military.

Unidentified gunmen wearing camouflage uniforms block the entrance of the Crimean Parliament building in Simferopol, Ukraine, on March 1, 2014. The poster reads "Crimea Russia."

Russian troops block the roadway toward the military airport at the Black Sea port of Sevastopol in Crimea, Ukraine, on Feb. 28, 2014.

Two priests pray at a memorial for the people killed in clashes with the police at Kiev's Independence Square in Ukraine on Feb. 28, 2014.

Anti-Viktor Yanukovych protesters wait to join a unit of a self-defense in Kiev's Independence Square in Ukraine on Feb. 28, 2014.

An unidentified gunman uses his radio while he and others block the road toward the military airport at the Black Sea port of Sevastopol in Crimea, Ukraine, on Feb. 28, 2014. Russian troops took control of the two main airports in the strategic peninsula of Crimea, Ukraine's interior minister charged on Feb. 28, as the country asked the U.N. Security Council to intervene in the escalating conflict. Russian state media said Russian forces in Crimea denied involvement.

Former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko addresses the crowd in central Kiev, Ukraine, on Feb. 22. Hours after being released from prison, former Ukrainian prime minister and opposition icon Tymoshenko praised the demonstrators killed in the violence as heroes.

People hold candles at Independence Square in Kiev, Ukraine, on Feb. 22. Protesters took control of Ukraine's capital, seizing the president's office as parliament voted to remove him and hold new elections.

A protester waves an EU flag at Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych's countryside residence in Mezhyhirya, Kiev's region, Ukraine, on Feb. 22. Ukrainian security and volunteers from among the Independence Square protesters have joined forces to protect the presidential countryside retreat from vandalism and looting.

People raise their fists during a rally in Independence Square in Kiev, Ukraine, on Feb. 22. Protesters in the Ukrainian capital claimed full control of the city following the signing of a Western-brokered peace deal aimed at ending the nation's three-month political crisis. The nation's embattled president, Viktor Yanukovych, reportedly had fled the capital for his support base in Ukraine's Russia-leaning east.

A coffin with the body of a protester killed in the clashes is carried through the crowd in central Kiev on Feb. 22.

Protesters try to play on a golf course at Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych's countryside residence in Mezhyhirya, Kiev's region, on Feb. 22.

Activists evacuate a wounded protester during clashes with police in Kiev's Independence Square in Ukraine on Feb. 20, 2014.

Anti-government protesters shout "Glory to the Ukraine" as they man a barricade at Independence Square in Kiev on Feb. 21, 2014.

An anti-government protester mans a barricade at Independence Square in Kiev on Feb. 21, 2014.

A fire burns at the barricades on the outskirts of Independence Square in Kiev on Feb. 21, 2014.

An anti-government protester stands atop a barricade at Independence Square in Kiev, Ukraine, on Feb. 20, 2014. Protesters advanced on police lines in the heart of the Ukrainian capital, prompting government snipers to shoot back and kill scores of people in the country's deadliest day since the breakup of the Soviet Union a quarter-century ago.

Activists and priests pay respects to protesters who were killed in clashes with police in Kiev's Independence Square on Feb. 20, 2014. A flag held by one activist reads "For Ukraine."

An anti-government protester holds a firearm as he mans a barricade on the outskirts of Independence Square on Feb. 20, 2014.

An anti-government protester holds a crucifix as he prays at Independence Square on Feb. 20, 2014.